Prime minister’s presence at a military parade in Moscow was seen as impossible over Russia’s actions in respect of Ukraine, press secretary said

STOCKHOLM, April 5. /TASS/. Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven will not go to Moscow to take part in the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the victory in WWII, the SVT television channel said on Sunday, citing the government’s press secretary, Anne Eksberg.

She said the prime minister’s presence at a military parade in Moscow was seen as impossible over Russia’s actions in respect of Ukraine. However she said Sweden felt profound respect to the colossal casualties Russia has sustained during the Second World War.

Sweden will be represented at the V-Day celebrations in Moscow by the Swedish ambassador.

On March 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that among those world leaders who had confirmed their participation in the V-Day celebrations in Moscow were Chinese President Xi Jinping, the presidents of India, South Africa, Mongolia, Vietnam, leaders of Cuba and China. He said invitations had been sent to the leaders of 68 world nations and to the heads of the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the European Union.